Short Stories

Rojak: Stories from the Singapore Writers’ Group

by Alice Clark-Platts & Others

5 Stars

Having recently arrived in Singapore and looking to read some of the best local writing, I was rewarded when I read this gem of a short story anthology. The Malay word for “mixture,” Rojak is an apt title for this collection of short, easy-to-read stories that take the reader around the world and leaves them with exotic tastes to savor and provoking thoughts to ponder. It is indeed the “perfect mix of short stories for the adventurous and the armchair traveler” with tales from Singapore to Mexico, England, South Africa, and elsewhere. There’s something for everyone in this book.

The anthology is well written and edited. Some stories are concise with clear endings while others end leaving the reader craving more. All pack a strong punch, filled with emotion and depth in mere pages. Many could serve as the basis of full-length novels. Although written by 19 authors with diverse writing styles and interests, the book features a coherent narrative and themes guided by the deft hand of Singapore Writers’ Group founder Alice Clark-Platts, who brought an eclectic “mixture” of members together to write this anthology.

I’m looking forward to reading more short stories from the Singapore Writers’ Group and follow-on works by the book’s contributors. Read this book for a taste of what this talented group has to offer, and if you are in Singapore, get to know the SWG. It has a bright future on the Singapore literary scene.

I give Rojak five (5) stars and recommend it to anyone interested in Singapore, travel stories, or well-written short stories.

Liquorice Twists by Dorte Hummelshoj Jakobsen

4 Stars

Ms. Jakobsen wrote an intriguing collection of flash fiction crime stories. Each story has a surprising ending with a creative twist (hence, the title). Toward the end of the book, I began to wonder what unexpected conclusion to expect in the each subsequent story. The stories are well written with some interesting literary flourishes and contemporary themes. One story, “The Caller,” is particularly good.

My one wish is that the stories were longer. They left me wanting more, but most were over as quickly as they began. I would have liked to see more detail and character development; that said, Ms. Jakobsen did a good job developing the characters and story as far as she could in a limited amount of space.